by Zak Hanshew
As always, we’ve got a dozen options to consider when hitting the fantasy waiver wire and a dozen players to consider dropping in favor of those hot pickups. Last week’s article featured some of our strongest pickups of the season, but this week, we’ll temper expectations with a weaker group of adds. It’s unclear how serious Franz Wagner’s ankle sprain is, but if he’s forced to miss any time moving forward, there are a pair of players in Orlando who should be ready to step up for the Magic and for your fantasy squads. Kevin Durant’s hamstring injury and two-game absence have brought back a familiar face in fantasy hoops circles. Will the Knicks’ blockbuster trade of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley for OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa offer actionable fantasy advice?
The Jazz continue to shuffle their lineups in the hope of finding the right combination, and we’ve got a second-year forward who’s worth your attention and a veteran offering valuable out-of-positon assists. Who should fantasy managers target for the shorthanded Cavs and Hornets, and which Warriors are worth dropping (hint: most of them)? Is it time to part ways with some early-season heroes and a pair of players who will seemingly never get back on the court?
Khris Middleton logged only 15 minutes in Thursday’s narrow win over the Spurs, but his early exit after halftime was likely for rest purposes on the second night of a back-to-back set. None of Malik Beasley, Pat Connaughton (who saw the biggest bump in playing time) or Marjon Beauchamp are worth an add.
The format for this article will feature players who are “tired” and those who are “wired.” Tired players are those worth adding off the wire but with tempered expectations or highly rostered players who can be dropped in favor of a hot pickup. Wired players are those who are the best additions with the highest rest-of-season ceilings.
Thanks for reading! It’s going to be an exciting season bringing this column to you each and every week. LET’S GO!
Pickups in Order of Priority
Simone Fontecchio
Caris LeVert
Nick “Naughty Nicky” Richards
Kelly…
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